The Golden LEAF Foundation has changed its rules, and Edgecombe County may benefit.

The annual grant cycle will continue whereby organizations compete for funds, but a new program specifically targets economically disadvantaged counties.

It's called the Community Assistance Initiative and could mean as much as $2 million in grants each to the 41 most distressed counties designated as Tier 1.

"This could make a tremendous impact," said Eric Evans, the county's community development director.

That's the program's goal. Within two years, Golden LEAF want to touch all 41 Tier 1 counties, some of which have not received a Golden LEAF check in their communities.

"We want to really put our boots on the ground," said Patricia Cabe, Golden LEAF's vice president of programs/community assistance and outreach. "Why key issues, immediate objectives are needed in these counties? How can Golden LEAF help?"

Edgecombe County has scheduled a community listening forum for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 19 at a site to be determined, probably Edgecombe Community College's Keihin Auditorium.

"We're throwing out the rule book," said Golden LEAF Senior Vice President Mark Sorrells. "What is needed to make these counties economically competitive?"

He cited Rutherford County, which needed a broadband infrastructure for its schools and emergency management services. It was awarded a $1.450 million grant.

"We want to emphasize that this is a community-based process," Cabe said. "We want to help counties leverage planning processes they have already been through. Implement some of those they have in place."

Golden LEAF will even help the counties write their proposals.

The counties then must rank their proposals in order of importance. It will not be competitive.

In the annual grant cycle, the Golden LEAF received 350 to 400 proposals cycle. The foundation is expected to award about $10 million in the 2008-09 cycle.

This new program began in March 2007, targeting eight counties that had never received a Golden LEAF check. Already Rutherford, Hertford, Scotland and Gates counties have received grants and Caldwell and Hyde will probably receive checks in June.

The Golden LEAF Foundation was created in 1999 as part of the nationwide tobacco settlement. The Long-term Economic Advancement Foundation was to be a means of lifting tobacco-dependent rural communities out of their dependency on tobacco incomes. Funds from the Golden LEAF Foundation were to create new economic infrastructure, new jobs and home-grown opportunities for rural young people.